A BRITISH soldier serving in Iraq is thought to have secretly filmed women squaddies showering in the nude - then passed the footage around among his mates.

Military police are questioning the alleged peeping tom over claims that he set up a webcam to spy on female colleagues as they washed off the desert dust.

It is believed the sneaky images were downloaded on to mobile phones and passed around between male soldiers.

Army top brass have launched a full investigation at one of the British military bases outside Basra in southern Iraq.

Female squaddies have been warned that footage of them in the nude may be circulating around the camps.

One female Army source, currently serving in Iraq, said: "This is utterly disgusting. Even if the person or persons that did it thought it was a laugh it has really upset us all. Apparently the film footage is being circulated around the camp and soldiers are being asked to tell senior officers if they are given it.

"We all know squaddies send each other films but this is completely unacceptable. I hope they find the person responsible for this and throw the book at him. He should be sent home in disgrace and court-martialled."

There are currently 7,500 British soldiers serving in southern Iraq and a few hundred further north.

Tony Blair recently said he will bring home some British soldiers later this year. Hundreds of servicewomen have served in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years. Two women soldiers were killed last week near Basra by a roadside bomb, including second lieutenant Jo Dyer.

She was a close friend of Prince William, having trained alongside him at Sandhurst.

Last night the Ministry of Defence said: "Complaints of this nature are taken very seriously and action will be taken if needed. I can confirm that a soldier is helping military police with their inquiries."